Holder for cylindrical or conical containers

ABSTRACT

A holder for cylindrical or conical containers includes holding fingers distributed around a vertical central axis. Each finger has a base attached in a connecting region to a base area and includes a first finger segment extending from the base to an area at maximum distance from the base area. The outer area of the finger is tiltable away from the axis away from a base position about a first hinge in the connecting region. A second finger segment extends outwardly from the first finger segment and from a second hinge formed in the outer area to a free end. In the base position, these second finger segments extend at an angle relative to the axis so that the free ends are closer to the axis than the outer areas. The free ends of the second finger segments are displaced outward, away from the axis via the second hinges.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates to a holder for cylindrical or conical containers, in particular sample containers for material samples that are to be analyzed, especially medical specimens, having at least three holding fingers, the respective bases of which are attached in a connecting region with a base area, which are distributed around an essentially vertical central axis, extending with an initial finger segment from the base to an area at the maximum distance from the base area.

2. Background Information

Such holders are known from prior art. Thus, for example, the document WO 2006/113854 A2 describes a sample carrier, which features a corresponding holder on a holder plate. In the sample holders described there, a total of four holding fingers are formed that originate from a base and extend such that they curve inward, the material thickness of which tapers from the base to a distal free end. A material sample held in a test tube or, in other words, a cylindrical container or a slightly conical sample container, for example, is placed in the holding fingers, wherein a uniform pressure and holding force is exerted on the sample container by the holding fingers on four sides that are at right angles to, or opposite one another, respectively.

Such holders for cylindrical or conical containers have proven to be successful since they are easy to manufacture and exert sufficient holding force on the containers being held, and especially because they orient them in a desired direction, typically in a vertical direction, thereby allowing the container to be easily inserted into and removed from the holder.

There are limits in some applications with these kinds of sample holders known from prior art having holding fingers that extend from their respective base and the base area, with which the respective base is connected in a simple extension away from the base area to a free end disposed at a maximum distance from that base, however. In particular, such holders cannot accommodate containers that are arbitrarily formed, having different diameters or radii, and typically, appropriate holders are designed for specific container types or only allow a narrow range of deviation from the container diameter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to remedy this situation. The invention is intended as a further improvement on a holder for cylindrical or conical containers known from prior art in order to allow containers of differing shapes and in particular, with different diameters, to be reliably and securely accommodated.

This objective is accomplished according to the invention by a holder for cylindrical or conical containers.

As is the case with holders known from prior art, the inventive holder for cylindrical or conical containers, wherein containers particularly refer to sample containers for material samples that are to be analyzed, especially medical specimens, has at least three holding fingers, the respective bases of which are attached in a connecting region with a base area, and which fingers are distributed around an essentially vertical central axis, extending with an initial finger segment from the base to an area at the maximum distance from the base area. Unlike the prior art, for example in accordance with the document WO 2006/113854 A2, in which the first finger segments are rigidly connected to the base area in the connecting region with especially thick material, the holding fingers according to the invention each feature a first hinge there. The outer areas of these fingers can be tilted away from the central axis at this hinge from a base position in which they are angled relative to the central axis. In addition, the holding fingers according to the invention each feature a second finger segment, which extends from the first finger segment via a second hinge formed in the outer area to a free end. Here, the second finger segments are angled in the base position with respect to the central axis such that their free ends lie closer to the central axis than the outer areas and such that the second finger segments can each be displaced outward, away from the central axis via the second hinges.

This inventive design makes it possible to accommodate various containers with different diameters having a greater range of diameters. Starting from a smallest radius, which is determined by the positions in which the free ends of the second finger segments are resting in the base position, and which actually must exceed this distance slightly, an ever increasing radius can be selected, which is determined by the outward displacement of the second finger segments by flexibly bending along the hinge in the outer area and by the outer displacement of the first finger segments by flexibly bending along the hinge in the area at the base of the holding fingers. Due to the design, having two op posing finger segments that extend outward from the base and inward again from the outer area and the two hinges, the individual fingers can extend to a wide bend or displacement angle, and therefore even sample containers of a very large diameter can be accommodated. At the same time, the pressing force is established by two hinges wherein excessive force from the free ends in contact with a container at least initially in the receiving position is not excessively great, especially since, in the case of a comparably degree of force as a result of force from the hinges at the base, a portion of this force is absorbed by a deformation or bending of the hinges in the outer areas. Thus cylindrical or conical containers, having a wide range of diameters accommodated by a holder according to the invention, can not only be picked up and held, they are also held gently and without excessive force.

The holding fingers are advantageously formed as a single piece. In particular, the holding fingers can also be formed of a single piece with the base area as well.

In the event that the holding fingers alone, or the holding fingers with the base area are formed as a single piece, it is preferred that at least the first or the second hinge, or advantageously both hinges be film hinges or film hinge hinges. This can be achieved, for example, by thinning the material accordingly in the area of the hinges or through the appropriate alignment.

In addition to the hinges, which exert a certain degree of pressure and holding force, when a cylindrical or conical container is placed in the holder according to the invention, the finger segments themselves (first and second finger segments) can also exhibit a certain degree of flexibility, which likewise the holding fingers displacing flexibly and applying sufficient force to the container to hold it.

Plastic is a particularly suitable material for the holding fingers, wherein the plastic can be selected based on the desired properties such as flexibility, spring action in the finger segments, spring action in the hinges and so forth.

In the case of containers with a large diameter, in order to prevent the second finger segment from lying entirely flat against the outer wall of the container and thereby causing the second hinge to exert a high degree of pressure and too much clamping force on this container, the second finger segments are advantageously subdivided into two subsections, of which, starting at the second hinge, an initial section extends at a steep angle relative to the central axis, and in which this section is then followed by a second subsection at a lesser angle relative to the central axis in a transition area. If needed, an additional hinge may be formed in this transition, which is not required for the realization of the invention, however. This transition area is advantageously located at approximately a third of the longitudinal extension of the second finger segment starting from the outer area to the free ends.

The holding fingers are advantageously distributed in a uniform angular distribution around the central axis. In particular, a set of four holding fingers have proven of value that maintain intervals of 90° distributed at the same distance around the central axis.

The holder according to the invention also advantageously features a supporting surface in the middle, between the holding fingers, on which a container e that is held in the holder can be placed with a container base it contains. In particular, this supporting surface can be cup-shaped or, in other words, formed convexly, in order to securely support the base of tubular containers, which base typically has a spherical form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following descriptions based on the accompanying figures. These include:

FIG. 1 a three-dimensional view of a first embodiment of a holder according to the invention;

FIG. 2 another three-dimensional view of the inventive holder in FIG. 1 from a slightly different perspective;

FIG. 3 a longitudinal section through the inventive holder according to FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a holder according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first possible embodiment of the inventive holder for cylindrical or conical containers based on three different views. A second embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. The representations in the figures are purely schematic and are not in any way to scale. Identical elements have been provided with the same reference numbers.

A holder for containers, in particular sample containers, according to a first embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and is generally designated as 1. The holder 1 features a total of four holding fingers 2. These fingers 2 are connected with a base area 4 by their respective base 3. The holding fingers 2 form a first hinge 5 (see FIG. 3) in this transition area. The four holding fingers 2 are arranged at the same distance around a central axis 6 (see FIG. 3) and are each placed at a 90° from one another around this central axis 6. Each holding finger 2 features a first finger segment 7 (see FIG. 3), which extends outward from the base 3 and from the base area 4 to an outer area 8. Here, as shown in the figures, the first finger segment 7 in the base position is at an angle relative to the central axis 6, namely in such a way that the outer area is pointed towards this central axis. The central axis 6 is thereby disposed such that it is essentially vertical. In the outer area, the holding fingers 2 are deflected and transition to a second finger segment 10 via a second hinge 9. This second finger segment 10 extends inward in the direction of the base area 4 to a free end 11. In terms of level, it lies above the base area 4. The second finger segments 10 are likewise angled relative to the central axis 6 in such a way that the free ends 11 in the base position lie at the central axis 6, as can be seen in the figures.

The second finger segments 10 are further subdivided into a first subsection 12, which is immediately connected to the outer area 8 and the second hinge 9, and in which the second finger segment 10 runs at a steep angle relative to the central axis 6, and a second subsection 13, in which the second finger segment 10 continues in a straight line to the free end at a lesser angle relative to the central axis 6. The first subsection 12 and the second subsection 13 are connected to one another or transition into one another in a transition area 14.

An hinge may, but need not be formed in this transition area 14. No hinge is formed in the embodiment shown.

In the embodiment shown, the holding fingers 2 are formed out of plastic as a single piece with the base area 4. The hinges of the first hinge 5 and second hinge 9 are designed as film hinge joints. Here, the plastic material of the holding fingers and the material thickness of those fingers have been selected such that there is a certain innate degree of elasticity and flexibility in the area of the first and second finger segments.

In a raised, pedestal-like section 15, which extends between the holding fingers 2 from the base area 4, a cup-shaped, convex support 16 for accommodating a container base is formed, designed in particular to accommodate a curved bottom of a tubular container, especially sample containers.

Looking at the figures, in particular FIG. 3, it is clear that due to the two provided hinges 3 and 9 and the two finger segments, the first finger segment 7 and second finger segment 10, connected via these hinges, each of the holding fingers 2 can be deflected from the shown base position, in which the free ends 11 lie very close together, far outward and away from the central axis 6. Thus the holding fingers 2 can accommodate containers having widely varying diameters starting with containers having a very small diameter that only slightly exceeds the distance between the free ends 11 of two opposing holding fingers 2, all the way to diameters that nearly equal the distance between the bases 3 of two opposing holding fingers 2 in the sample holder according to the invention, wherein a secure hold can be assured for all such containers having widely varying diameters on the one hand, and on the other hand the application of excessive force can also be prevented.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of a holder 20 according to the invention. This holder 20 does not differ from the basic structure and mode of action of the holder 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 3. It also features holding fingers 2, that are each placed at a 90° to one another around this central axis and that are each arranged at the same distance, having first hinges 5 in the area of their base where they are connected to a base area 4. In holder 20 as well, the holding fingers 2 each have a first finger segment 7, which, like the first finger segment 7 of the holder 1 in the embodiment described above, extends at an angle to the central axis to an outer area 8 and transitions there to a second finger segment 10 via an hinge 9, wherein said second segment then extends inward in the direction of the base area 4 to a free end 11. The second finger segments 10 are again each subdivided into a first subsection 12 and a second subsection 13, wherein the first subsection 12 is angled more sharply relative to the central axis than the second subsection 13, and is pointing towards said axis, which second subsection 13 extends at a lesser angle towards the central axis and continues to a free end 11.

Unlike the embodiment of the holder 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 3, which is designed to be installed on a surface, for example on the top of a sample holder for the transport of samples on a conveyor track, the holder 20 is designed to be installed on a surface from below, around an available opening in the surface. For this reason, it features four retaining bars 21 between the holding fingers 2, likewise at 90° angles to one another, displaced outward in terms of their distance from the central axis, which feature a catch 23 at their outer ends 22 in the form of locking hooks, as shown in the figure above, for fixing and locking the locking retainers in the surface. In this way, individual holders 20 can be removed from an assembly comprising a number of such holders 20 and exchanged if such a holder becomes damaged or is otherwise rendered unusable.

Preferably tubular sample containers, especially those used for medical specimens, such as blood or urine samples, are accommodated in the holders according to the invention. Here, the sample holders according to the invention can be disposed on different objects and at different locations, for example on conveyances or sample holders that are suited for moving along conveyor tracks in an automated analysis laboratory, but also in tray-like receptacles for accommodating a variety of containers, especially sample containers.

LIST OF REFERENCE DRAWINGS

1 holder

2 holding finger

3 base

4 base area

5 first hinge

6 central axis

7 first finger segment

8 outer area

9 second hinge

10 second finger segment

11 free end

12 first subsection

13 second subsection

14 transition area

15 raised, pedestal-like section

16 support

20 holder

21 retaining bar

22 outer end

23 catch 

1. A holder for cylindrical or conical containers, in particular sample containers for material samples that are to be analyzed, especially medical specimens, having at least three holding fingers (2), the respective bases (3) of which are attached in a connecting region to a base area (4), which are distributed around an essentially vertical central axis (6) extending with an initial finger segment (7) from the base to an area (8) at maximum distance from the base area (4), characterized in that the holding fingers (2) each form a first hinge (5) in the connecting region, around which the outer area (8) of these fingers can be tilted away from the central axis (6) from a base position in which they are angled towards the central axis (6), and that the holding fingers (2) each feature a second finger segment (10), wherein these second finger segments (10) each start at the respective first finger segment (7), extending from a second hinge (9) formed in the outer area (8) to a free end (11), wherein in the base position, these finger segments (10) each extend at an angle relative to the central axis (6) in such a way that the free ends (11) are closer to the central axis (6) than the outer areas (8), and that the free ends (11) of the second finger segments (10) can be displaced outward, away from the central axis (6), via the second hinges (9).
 2. The holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding fingers (2) are each formed as a single piece.
 3. The holder according to claim 2, characterized in that the holding fingers (2) are formed as a single piece with the base area (4).
 4. The holder according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the first (5) and/or the second hinge (9) is a film hinge.
 5. The holder according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the first (7) and second finger segments (10) feature a degree of flexibility.
 6. The holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by holding fingers (2) made of plastic.
 7. The holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second finger segments (10) extending from the second hinge (9) initially extend in a first subsection (12) at a steep angle from the central axis (6) and then transition to a second subsection (13) in in a transition area (14) extending at an angle towards the central axis (6).
 8. The holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by four holding fingers (2), which are disposed equidistantly at 90° intervals around the central axis (6).
 9. The holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a cup-shaped supporting surface (16) formed centrally between the holding fingers (2). 